ECRM partners with Kids in Need Foundation to recognize teachers

ECRM is teaming up with the Kids in Need Foundation in an effort to recognize outstanding educators nationwide, providing school supplies to those who need them. ECRM’s 2020 School and Office EPPS will be raising money for the foundation and recognizing both a teacher and a retailer for their work ensuring students have the tools they need for classroom success. 

“We are very excited to expand our multi-year partnership with KINF for this special activation and continue to provide great value for the school and office products industry,” said Jeff Smalley, senior vice president for general merchandise at ECRM. “With so many teachers going into their own pockets to purchase supplies for their students, we knew we had to find a way to give them meaningful support and help our industry get involved.”

The 2020 event, which is slated for Aug. 9-13 at the Phoenician in Scottsdale, Ariz., will be attended by suppliers, retailers and distributors who have worked to promote and support selected teachers throughout the year. On Aug. 9, ECRM will host an awards gala, preceded by a charity golf outing that will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Kids in Need Foundation. ECRM said a guest speaker would be announced shortly, and that there exists sponsorship opportunities for each hole of golf. 

The awards gala will feature an award for the ECRM Teacher of the Year, chosen from the 14,000 who have applied for supply boxes from the Kids in Need Foundation. Teachers in the program share their story and highlight how receiving assistance from the foundation would impact their classroom. Retailers and suppliers will be able to identify teacher candidates for the award and advocate for them throughout the first half of 2020. They also will provide two supply boxes with a classroom worth of school supplies. The winning teacher will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Phoenician and be recognized at the gala. 

“We want to thank ECRM for creating this opportunity to recognize the amazing teachers across the country who are dedicated to providing for their students’ futures,” said Kids In Need CEO Corey Gordon. “Teachers should not have to spend money out of their own pockets to provide supplies and this program will help encourage donations of these critical resources throughout the school year as well as deepen our foundation’s partnerships within the school and office supplies industry.”